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The Legacy Series | Episode 2 | Hassa Mann

bush demon
bush demon
in Melbourne Demons

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Thanks for that!  There's not enough footage of the great Hassa, unfortunately.

He was my childhood Demons idol and I proudly sported his number 29 on my first Melbourne footy jumper.

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    6 minutes ago, bush demon said:

    My true demon hero through the 1960s. It's not every day you see video highlights of this great era:

    https://youtu.be/Xjnd7VZv3C4?si=gZnuZY91l34D8DoP

    I'm with you BD. I had the great pleasure of twice chatting with him whilst on a run. Both times a total chance meeting - once in Eltham, the other on Blairgowrie beach when he was CEO. Despite his threat of an IVO if it happened a 3rd time, he was very friendly and good company.

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    His daughter is married to Phil Spencer, who co-hosts a long running property show in the UK with Kirstie Allsopp called Location, Location, Location. I remember he did a short-lived Australian version of the show and on a Melbourne episode attended a Dees training session. 

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    Can anyone ascertain if this footage is from his post-12th-premiership period? The mid-60s seem to have been a bit of a watershed, from the earlier 'get-and-kick' style, to a more skilful, varied one, as demonstrated by H.

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    9 minutes ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

    Can anyone ascertain if this footage is from his post-12th-premiership period? The mid-60s seem to have been a bit of a watershed, from the earlier 'get-and-kick' style, to a more skilful, varied one, as demonstrated by H.

    Given that there were only two matches covered each week - monopolised by the top teams - l am guessing some of these games at least were match of the round and therefore during MFCs better years of the 60s... 

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    2 minutes ago, bush demon said:

    Given that there were only two matches covered each week - monopolised by the top teams - l am guessing some of these games at least were match of the round and therefore during MFCs better years of the 60s... 

    "Melbourne doing it easy" at 0.26... later on "and another goal by Melbourne"...  "Kerry Ryan" anyone?

     

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    A hero definitely just before Tulip,  I did think john Townsend and Brian Kenneally were pretty good,  praps ken Emselle

     

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    1 hour ago, Demonstone said:

    Thanks for that!  There's not enough footage of the great Hassa, unfortunately.

    He was my childhood Demons idol and I proudly sported his number 29 on my first Melbourne footy jumper.

    Same. Turned up for school one morning and all the boys were decked out in full footy gear (90% Footscray  as this was Williamstown) but, being a Pom, I hadn’t got the memo and was still in uniform. Mum soon sorted it and the following week I arrived in my Demons gear with number 29 on the back. Joined in the game and was immediately whistled for handing the ball to a teammate (er, what’s a handball?)…

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    1 hour ago, bush demon said:

    "Melbourne doing it easy" at 0.26... later on "and another goal by Melbourne"...  "Kerry Ryan" anyone?

     

    That confirms it: 1966. Kerry Ryan, #36, played 1 game for the Dees, in 1966 (and kicked 1 goal - presumably from that mark from H's vision!)

    Graham Osborne also mentioned, and 1966 was his first year with the Dees.

    Edited by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

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    1 hour ago, Demonstone said:

    Thanks for that!  There's not enough footage of the great Hassa, unfortunately.

    He was my childhood Demons idol and I proudly sported his number 29 on my first Melbourne footy jumper.

    Same! (outranked even Brian Dixon who was our local hero, and was just up the North Croydon end of Dorset Rd, where I was growing up at the time)

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    1 hour ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

    That confirms it: 1966. Kerry Ryan, #36, played 1 game for the Dees, in 1966 (and kicked 1 goal - presumably from that mark from H's vision!)

    Graham Osborne also mentioned, and 1966 was his first year with the Dees.

    I am wondering if Kerry Ryan was a sports teacher.

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    Hassa, when he worked for I think Mobil was often at my father’s business and got me all the team autographs which is a treasured keepsake. I was also taught by Mrs. Mann in primary school. A true demon hero.

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    36 minutes ago, DeeMee said:

    Hassa, when he worked for I think Mobil was often at my father’s business and got me all the team autographs which is a treasured keepsake. I was also taught by Mrs. Mann in primary school. A true demon hero.

    Speaking of Mobil, his 1964 card was one of my cherished memories!

     

    Edited by bush demon

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    11 hours ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

    His daughter is married to Phil Spencer, who co-hosts a long running property show in the UK with Kirstie Allsopp called Location, Location, Location. I remember he did a short-lived Australian version of the show and on a Melbourne episode attended a Dees training session. 

    Ahh and thus the connection , I remember this episode

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    One of our greats. The North footage would seem to be from 1967 where we won by 3 points at the ‘G, with Peter Smth running around in the #4 jumper previously made famous by his father - the coach that day.

    The Collingwood one would be from 1968 at Victoria Park, again where we won. Greg Parke visible in the footage in his first season - kicked 4 straight.

    At 1.27 the Geelong player who attempts to kill Hassa with a head high is good old Sam Newman.

    Edited by Tim

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    11 hours ago, bush demon said:

    "Melbourne doing it easy" at 0.26... later on "and another goal by Melbourne"...  "Kerry Ryan" anyone?

     

    Kerry Ryan - Wikipedia

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    1 hour ago, DeeMee said:

    Hassa, when he worked for I think Mobil was often at my father’s business and got me all the team autographs which is a treasured keepsake. I was also taught by Mrs. Mann in primary school. A true demon hero.

    I was employed at Mobil Head Office in 2 City Road South Melbourne 1965 - 1968 and Hassa Mann was also there. I was hospitalized in 1966 after damaging my knee in a MFC practice match at the MCG. Hassa would visit me once a week and bring my Mobil pay to me. Top bloke.

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    5 minutes ago, demongorm said:

    I was employed at Mobil Head Office in 2 City Road South Melbourne 1965 - 1968 and Hassa Mann was also there. I was hospitalized in 1966 after damaging my knee in a MFC practice match at the MCG. Hassa would visit me once a week and bring my Mobil pay to me. Top bloke.

    My fathers business in Queensbridge street South Melbourne serviced the Mobil cars so I guess Hassa was a rep. I, as a young whipper snapper spent holidays doing the menial tasks. Funny these days to think of players having actual other jobs whilst still being idolised by a young supporter.

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    11 hours ago, hardtack said:

    Brian Dixon who was our local hero

    Many moons ago, I was in the Yarra Glen area, trying unsuccessfully to find my way to Dixons Creek.

    I stopped at a general store for directions and who should I see lining up to buy his lunch but Brian Dixon.

    Surely he'd know where Dixons Creek was!

    Naturally enough, I asked him for a little help.  He seemed most annoyed at my intrusion and begrudgingly pointed me in the right direction.  

    Just for the record, his lunch order was two pasties and a vanilla milkshake.

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    This number of reminisces certainly speaks to the man (mann?) And that footy card was very evocative.

    But I guess it also speaks to a significant proportion of the Demonland demogaphic: those whose Demons foundations were laid in the dimly-appreciated '50s and early '60s but whose bricks and mortar were the mid- to late-60s.

    Unfortunately, thereafter, paint and furniture failed to materialise...

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